Oct. 23, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format
#21 Yellow Jackets Hosts Red-Hot Virginia Saturday At 3:30
Georgia Tech, which has won four consecutive games, hosts streaking Virginia this afternoon at Bobby Dodd Stadium (3:34 p.m./ESPNU).
The 21st-ranked Yellow Jackets, 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the ACC, are nationally-ranked for the first time this season and are one win shy of becoming bowl-eligible.
Tech is coming off a 21-17 victory at Clemson last Saturday. Sophomore quarterback Josh Nesbitt hit sophomore receiver Demaryius Thomas on a 24-yard touchdown strike with 5:22 remaining and the defense held the Tigers to 51 yards rushing to lift the Yellow Jackets.
Virginia, 4-3 and 2-1, has posted a remarkable month of October. The Cavaliers have posted three straight home wins over Maryland (31-0), East Carolina (35-20) and 18th-ranked North Carolina (16-13 in overtime) by a combined margin of 82-33. Cedric Peerman’s two-yard touchdown run in overtime gave Virginia its 16-13 win over North Carolina last Saturday. Cavalier quarterback Marc Verica completed 24-of-38 passes for 217 yards against the Tar Heels and he did not throw an interception.
Today’s game has implications towards the ACC Coastal Division title. Georgia Tech (3-1), Virginia (2-1) and Virginia Tech (2-1) are in the lead pack. Virginia leads the all-time series, 15-14-1 and has won four of the last five meetings. More on the series on page four.
Today’s Tip-Off
Homecoming at Tech: Georgia Tech has won its last 12 Homecoming games.
Home, Sweet Home: The Yellow Jackets, 4-0 at home this season, play three of their remaining four ACC games in Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Off the mark: Prior to the start of the season, SI.com predicted Paul Johnson’s team to finish 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the ACC and ranked Tech 12th out of 12 ACC teams.
Johnson joins the fight: Paul Johnson will wear an armband Saturday with the Coach to Cure MD insignia. It’s all part of the AFCA’s fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Georgia Tech Cracks Top 25 For First Time In More Than A Year
Georgia Tech, riding a four-game winning streak and one of 25 teams remaining with one loss or fewer, is ranked in the top 25 for the first time since Sept. 9, 2007. The Yellow Jackets are ranked 21st in the Associated Press poll, 21st in the USA Today Coaches poll and 18th in the BCS standings.
“Being in the top 25 is good for the players, who have worked hard, for the fans and the school, but we have a lot of room for improvement,” head coach Paul Johnson said. “We are preparing to face the most difficult part of our schedule, so we don’t have time to worry about national rankings.”
More on Georgia Tech in the polls:
– Georgia Tech is making an appearance in the top 25 for the fourth consecutive year.
– Tech is the highest-ranked ACC team in the polls.
– Tech’s ranking in other polls: 16th in the Sagarin Ratings; 16th by College Football News; 22nd in the Harris Poll.
Another Win Needed For 12th Straight Bowl Game
Georgia Tech, 6-1 overall, has played in a bowl game 11 consecutive seasons. That ties for the fifth-longest current streak nationally behind Michigan (34 straight bowls), Florida State (26), Florida (18) and Virginia Tech (15). Georgia is tied with Georgia Tech will 11 straight bowls.
The Yellow Jackets will need seven wins to be bowl-eligible in 2008. Tech has victories over two FCS opponents and only one of those count toward bowl-eligibility.
Georgia Tech-Florida State Game Will Kick At 3:30 On ABC
Kickoff time for the Nov. 1 Georgia Tech-Florida State game will be at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised by ABC.
